Key facts
- Rep. Robert Garcia urged House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer to seek testimony from Trump administration officials.
- Garcia cited a New York Times report detailing White House efforts to manage the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
- Garcia named Vice President Vance, chief of staff Susie Wiles, and press secretary Karoline Leavitt as officials to be questioned.
- The request follows reporting on White House discussions about the Epstein files and potential damage control.
- Garcia accused the Trump administration of engaging in a coverup to protect Donald Trump.
A top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee has urged Chairman James Comer to seek testimony from several Trump administration officials regarding their involvement in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) cited a New York Times report detailing White House efforts to contain the fallout from the convicted sex offender's files.
Garcia specifically named Vice President Vance, chief of staff Susie Wiles, and press secretary Karoline Leavitt, among others, pressing Comer to "take immediate steps" to secure their testimony. The request follows reporting that described internal White House discussions about the "Epstein files" and how to manage the growing backlash.
According to the report, Vance reportedly described the controversy as a "huge problem" and advocated for the Justice Department to release all related documents, even those containing unsubstantiated claims about President Trump. The report also mentioned discussions about potentially enlisting Tucker Carlson to interview Ghislaine Maxwell and the debate over a possible pardon for her.
Garcia accused the administration of orchestrating a "coverup" to protect Donald Trump, stating that the reporting underscored the need for direct answers from those involved. He also applauded Comer's intention to seek testimony from acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, emphasizing that any meeting should be conducted under oath and videotaped for public release.